Around the School 1/28/13

Several members of the football program have been spending quality time on the basketball court the last few weeks.

Jerry Langan, Alosha Fox, Joe Dietz, Drew Kuzma and Logan Herman have been displaying their basketball skills, between practice and playing games, at the Scranton School for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children.

Through a program sponsored by the Special Olympics, the players have been participating in basketball drills and games with adults with special needs. The players have been developing great friendships as well as an improved jump shot.

The program continues throughout the winter season.

mmyers@timesshamrock.com

Carbondale Area

The football team recently held its awards banquet. Several members were honored.

Some of the winners were Sam Demianovich, who claimed the Bill "Juice" Conigliaro Team Spirit Award; Kevin Ornes, who earned the Jim Miller "Most Aggressive" Player Award; Bailey Hughes, who won the William McDonough Award; Russell Dodge, who won the Coaches' Award; Lucas Durkin, who claimed the Unsung Hero Award on defense; and Joey Gigliotti, who was the MVP on offense.

Senior Katie Murphy has been selected to the academic all-state field hockey team. Players selected for the award must maintain a 92 percent average while being one of the best field hockey players in the state.

Murphy was Delaware Valley's center mid this past season. According to head coach Lindsay Sabo, Murphy was always assigned to defend the other team's toughest player. She also gave the team a great offensive push.

mmyers@timesshamrock.com

Holy Cross

Senior basketball player Casey Gaughan volunteered his time at the school's basketball camp over the summer.

"We do a lot of drills with them and we just talk to them, show them what our practices are like," he said. "We taught them how to do fundamental things."

He also helped out at the Holy Cross eighth-grade basketball tournament.

Gaughan, who also plays soccer and tennis, plans to study nursing in college, and is considering focusing on anesthesiology.

"I was reading into it and I was really intrigued about it," he said.

cfoley@timesshamrock.com

Honesdale

Senior Scott Donovan has been wrestling since he was in first grade. This season, he wrestles at 220 pounds.

"Since this is my last year, I hope to place at district and move on to regionals. That is my goal," Donovan said.

Off the mat, Donovan has been actively involved in the 4-H Club for 11 years. He raises sheep, then shows and sells them at the Wayne County Fair. Last year, he placed first in the Market Sheep division.

Two of the sheep Donovan is raising are pregnant and due to give birth in a few weeks.

Donovan is also a member of the construction and carpentry club, which has been working on building a shed that they plan to sell at the end of the school year.

After graduation, Donovan said he would like to attend trade school to learn more about construction.

swalsh@timesshamrock.com

Mid Valley

Some of the district's eighth-grade girls have traded blue and white for green, gold and black for the 2013 City-County All Star Tournament.

Playing for the Green Ridge Girls Gold team are Anielly Amboni, Julia Betti and Erica Haefele. Lauren Williams is suiting up with the Green Ridge Girls Green team and Liz Piorkowski is playing with Holy Cross for the annual all-star tournament.

mmyers@timesshamrock.com

Montrose

Junior Melody Snedeker will be traveling with 30 other students from across the state on a Rotary-sponsored People-to-People tour of Australia, New Zealand and Fiji in June.

Since receiving a letter inviting her to attend an orientation meeting for the trip in 2012, Snedeker has taken part in various fundraisers including a Gertrude Hawk candy bar sale and quilt raffle.

On Feb. 16, Snedeker and all of the students traveling abroad will be hosting a chicken dinner from 2-5 p.m. at the Choconut Inn in Choconut. To join in the fun and support the group, tickets are $10 at the door and includes the dinner and musical entertainment.

"I am grateful for the support I've received so far," Snedeker said. "And I am looking forward to talking with a marine biologist at the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, which will help me decide more on my career."

Snedeker and the other students from Pennsylvania will depart for their 22-day trip overseas June 27 and will continue to fundraise and prepare for their trip until that time.

mmyers@timesshamrock.com

Mountain View

Last year, Jaye Winemiller researched the rise of obesity in America for a paper that would lead to her senior project.

Recently, the junior soccer player put what she learned into action when she held an "anti-bake sale" during an open house for her mother Jan's company, Tingley Glass in Milford.

"I served the guests, who were 20 artists from NEPA, catered it, and instead of baked goods, I had healthy foods," Jaye Winemiller said. "I had an assortment of fruits and vegetables and 'skinny' cupcakes - they basically taste like a cupcake but they have half the calories."

Winemiller said she took a cue from her soccer coach, Errol Mannick, who encourages his players to work hard and who also works as a physical trainer.

"Our soccer coach gets us into incredible shape," she said. "In 10th grade, I was all about being physically fit and eating healthy. That's why my paper was about obesity.

"I just wanted to show there are easy ways to be healthy. I just really want people to realize just the little things they can do."

Winemiller also manages the boys basketball team and plays softball.

ateatum@timesshamrock.com

North Pocono

Senior captain and four-year starter Katie Zielinski posted the rifle team's best scores in two matches.

On Jan. 15, Zielinski posted an individual score of 96 of 100 as the Trojans beat Stroudsburg High School, 473-461. Two days later, she had a 97 in a loss to Southern Lehigh.

"She is the first one at practice and often the last one to leave, always willing to give a helping hand and do whatever it takes to make the team a success," head coach Anthony Carito said. "Katie is a true leader the entire team depends on from helping set up the lineup for the day's match to the team dresscode. Katie helps in all aspects of the game."

The team will depend on her this upcoming week to win the last two matches and provide the team with a chance to make playoffs.

Zielinski is the only member of the team to score in every match and also has the highest overall individual average of 95.

ateatum@timesshamrock.com

Riverside

Senior members of the boys basketball team, the varsity cheerleaders and their parents will be honored during pre-game ceremonies at the Mid Valley and Riverside game on Feb. 8.

During the weekend event, joined by other members of his family, Simpson attended a pre-inauguration party and braved the cold weather, the overwhelming crowds and the numerous security checkpoints to witness President Obama take his historical second oath of office.

This was the second time Simpson had seen the president in person. The first was during Mr. Obama's visit to Scranton.

jbfawcett@timesshamrock.com

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